It is safe to say that WWE RAW was the better wrestling show compared to SmackDown in 2013. The red brand delivered PPV quality matches week in and week out. While stars such as John Cena and CM Punk firmly held on to the main event scene, newcomers like Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose cemented themselves as reliable talents.
Plus, established veterans like Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker provided a boost the red brand in times of need. The Phenom made a rare appearance on WWE RAW in 2013 to team up with (kayfabe) brother Kane and rising star Daniel Bryan. With that being said, let’s take a look at the best WWE RAW matches of 2013:
Chris Jericho vs. RVD (July 15)
RVD got one of the loudest pops when he returned to WWE at Money in the Bank 2013. The Whole Damn Show made his return to WWE RAW in grand fashion by taking on longtime rival Chris Jericho.
Ironically, Van Dam’s return coincided with Jericho’s departure from the company. WWE made the right call to give Jericho his final RAW match in 2013 against the man he had known for so long.
The Shield vs. The Undertaker & Team Hell No (WWE RAW – April 22)
We’ve briefly talked about this match above. Let’s look at the storyline that prompted WWE’s resident Deadman to show up on WWE RAW after three years. Team Hell No had been feuding with The Shield for weeks prior to Taker’s return.
The Hounds of Justice had come out the victors on every occasion. Fans thought that The Undertaker could turn the tables and give The Shield their first loss on the main roster.
They were wrong.
A sneak roll-up from Dean Ambrose on Daniel Bryan gave the unstoppable trio the biggest win of their career up to that point. The Lunatic Fringe would meet Taker on the following SmackDown. Following his win, the future WWE Hall of Famer would be laid to waste by the trio.
CM Punk vs. Ryback (TLC Match for the WWE Title – January 7)
CM Punk had made history as the longest-reigning WWE Champion of the modern era by the time he entered this match against Ryback. The Second City Saint had also defeated the Big Guy at both Hell in a Cell and Survivor Series.
The TLC match saw Ryback beat the life out of his opponent. Clearly, the stipulation didn’t favor the champion in the least. He was put through ladders and tables by the unstoppable challengers.
However, Ryback’s ascent to greatness was cut short as The Shield arrived to (once again) cost him the title. The Hounds of Justice triple powerbombed the Big Guy through a table onto the steel steps — allowing Punk to unhook the title and get the win.
Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton (Street Fight – June 24)
Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton had many classics in 2013. The pair finally got the opportunity to settle the score in this Brutal No Holds Barred Match just three weeks before Money in the Bank.
Both men brought the fight to each other. The use of foreign objects made the match even better. In the end, the American Dragon finally put away his bitter rival with the “YES!” Lock submission.
Fortunately, this wasn’t the end of their feud as Orton would turn heel at SummerSlam 2013 at the expense of Bryan.
CM Punk vs. John Cena (WWE RAW – February 25)
Many fans consider CM Punk versus John Cena from Money in the Bank 2011 to be the best match of their epic feud. With that said, their match from WWE RAW two years later surpassed their legendary 2011 encounter – at least when it came to wrestling.
Cena, who had won the Royal Rumble 2013, put his title shot on the line against Punk in this match. The Second City Saint once again brought out the best in arguably his greatest opponent in WWE.
Both men traded some excellent moves. Punk even pulled off the banned piledriver from his arsenal to a huge pop from the crowd. However, that wasn’t enough to put Big Match John away, who reversed the momentum with an Attitude Adjustment to get the win.
Honorable Mentions
- The Shield vs. Chris Jericho, Ryback, & Sheamus (WWE RAW – February 18)
- Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk (February 4)
- John Cena vs. Damien Sandow (WWE RAW – October 28)
- The Miz vs. Wade Barrett (April 8)
Also read: Best WWE RAW Matches Of 2014
